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WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. -- The West Nile virus was found this week in Rye Brook and the county wants to help protect you from the mosquito-borne disease.

Now that the rain has stopped, the county Health Deparment says there is a lot you can do to prevent mosquitoes from breeding and biting in your neighborhood:

• Check around your property for tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots or similar water-holding containers that should be discarded or turned over to prevent collecting water.
• Check and remove standing water from children’s toys and play houses left outside.
• Dispose of old tires.
• Drill holes in the bottoms of all recycling containers that are left outdoors.
• Turn over plastic wading pools, buckets and wheelbarrows when not in use.
• Change the water in birdbaths at least twice weekly.
• Sweep driveways after it rains to clear puddles.
• Keep storm drains and gutters clear of leaves and debris.
• Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, outdoor spas and hot tubs and drain water that collects on their covers.
The department also recommends you:
• Avoid the outdoors in the late afternoon and early evening when mosquitoes are active and feeding and use insect repellents when outdoors during these times, and be sure to follow the instructions on the label. Adults can apply insect repellents with up to 30 percent DEET on infants older than 2 months by applying the product to their own hands and then rubbing their hands on their children. Products containing DEET are not recommended for use on children younger than 2 months old.
• Wear protective clothing such as long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and socks when outdoors in areas and at times where and when mosquitoes are active and feeding.

If you notice large areas of standing water on public property that could serve as potential mosquito breeding grounds, please report it to the department at (914) 813-5000 or by emailing www.westchestergov.com/health.

For more health information, like the department on Facebook atwww.Facebook.com/wchealthdept, follow it on Twitter @wchealthdept or visit its website,
www.westchestergov.com/health
.